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Dead heading foxgloves

PeterJarvisPeterJarvis Posts: 113
in Wildlife gardening
I have some biennial foxgloves just coming to the end of flowering. Is it good to cut off the dead flower heads now and if so, how should I do that?
Thanks in advance.

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,309
    Once foxgloves have flowered in their 2nd year they die as the job of setting seed is done.
    If you remove the dead stem (cut it off at the base), you may get a much smaller stem of flowers later in the season.
    I have had them coming back again the following year, but they're pretty pathetic.
    I leave the dead stems on mine, so they self-seed and I have more flowering plants next year
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,151
    If you don't want them to seed, just cut the stems as described.  :)
    Most foxgloves seed quite freely, so if you like them, allow some to seed, although they don't always come true if there are others around that they can cross with. Easily pulled out if they aren't to your taste though. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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